Counter Terrorism
'Counter Terrorism' has sat uneasily within community safety. Most often seen as outside the civil ambit of general crime and disorder reduction, its focus tends to be viewed from a militaristic and interventionist perspective (which unarguably is an important component of the area) it is only seen as genuinely within the community safety spectrum of activity when it is viewed as an essential part of civil or homeland security - as an important function of the police services and surveillance services (such as CCTV) but also a facet of civil security work which will also include emergency planning, community cohesion and community engagement.
Counter terrorism rarely appeared in CDRP strategies prior to the incidents of July 2005 and even today it is quite rare for this to be identified within community safety partnership plans as either an issue within a more general 'civil security' topic or an issue in its own right. A few of London CDRP's have incorporated the work into their list of priorities but elsewhere, though this is a policing priority, it seems 'difficult' for CDRP's to find a place for this area of work within their action programmes.
In principle, this area of work has now become a key priority which CDRP's will find hard to ignore and should be seen as a key component of civil security - along with community cohesion and emergency planning and as such central to CDRP activities. The actual contribution that the Partnership will make to this area of work will vary and be dependent on the nature and extent of the terrorism or needs for developed programmes of community cohesion in the Partnership's area.
For a more detailed consideration of anti terrorism legislation UK Terrorism and the Law is the Home Office web page both background information and relevant statutes.
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Relevant Legislation
The Act extended the power of detention of suspected terrorists to 28 days and created a number of new offences. Acts Preparatory to Terrorism - planning serious acts of terrorism. Encouragement to Terrorism - to directly or indirectly incite or encourage others to commit acts of terrorism. This will include 'the glorification of terrorism, where this may be understood as encouraging the emulation of terrorism'. Dissemination of Terrorist Publications -covering the sale, loan, or other dissemination of terrorist publications. This will include those publications that encourage terrorism, and those that provide assistance to terrorists. Terrorist training offences - giving or receiving training in terrorist techniques.The Act also criminalises attendance at a place of terrorist training.
Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005
The Act allows for control orders to be made against suspected terrorists. "Control orders enable the authorities to impose conditions upon individuals ranging from prohibitions on access to specific items or services (such as the Internet), and restrictions on association with named individuals, to the imposition of restrictions on movement or curfews."
Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001
The measures are intended to 1. Cut off terrorist funding, 2.Ensure that government departments and agencies can collect and share information required for countering the terrorist threat, 3. Streamline relevant immigration procedures (including extended detention of suspected terrorists), 4. Ensure the security of the nuclear and aviation industries, 5. Improve security of dangerous substances that may be targeted/used by terrorists, 6. Extend police powers available to relevant forces, 7. Ensure that we can meet our European obligations in the area of police and judicial co-operation and our international obligations to counter bribery and corruption.
This is the primary anti terrorism legislation in the UK, making terrorist groups illegal (‘proscription’), enhanced police powers (police given greater powers to help prevent and investigate terrorism, including; wider stop and search powers, the power to detain suspects after arrest for up to 28 days (periods of more than two days had to be approved by a magistrate). It also created new criminal offences; allowing for the arrest of individuals suspected of inciting terrorist acts, seeking or providing training for terrorist purposes at home or overseas, providing instruction or training in the use of firearms, explosives or chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.
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Counter Terrorism Links
International Counter-Terrorism Legislation and Practice
A review of legislation and practice in counter terrorism in selected countries published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. (PDF)
A UK government action plan to work with Muslim communities to isolate, prevent and defeat violent extremism.
Action Against Terrorism Council of Europe
COE web pages covering protocols, council of experts, relevant declarations etc.
Metropolitan Police Service - Specialist Operations
MPS web pagesfrom the new Counter Terrorism Command.
RUSI Homeland Security and Resilience
This page is about RUSI's Homeland Security and Resilience Department. 'The Department is a professional forum for decision makers, solution providers and policy makers'.
UK Government Counter-Terrorism Strategy
The key aim of the counter-terrorism strategy is to reduce the risk from international terrorism.
US/UK Treaty Agreement for Critical Infrastructure Protection
Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America on Cooperation in Science and Technology for Critical Infrastructure Protection and other Homeland/CivilSecurity matters.
USA Department of Homeland Security
Website of the US department concerned with security matters. It takes the lead in evaluating vulnerabilities and takes the lead on coordinating with other federal, state, local, and private entities to ensure the most effective response.
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